News
May 13, 2012
It’s an extraordinary time in the world of DMOs, with three large city’s bureaus - the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, the Anaheim/Orange County Convention & Visitor Bureau and Visit Orlando - currently looking to find someone to fill their top posts.
After nine years running the bureau in Los Angeles, Mark Liberman recently announced he is going to retire to spend more time with his wife, Karen, as well as increase his work with the Alzheimer’s Association.
“The friendships, experiences and rewards have been many,” Liberman said.
He added,… more
May 12, 2012
Go to enough trade shows and you’ll notice that every event seems to have its own personality, flavor and attitude. Some shows are innovative and visually appealing, some lively and fun, while others more focused and serious.
LIGHTFAIR International, the world’s largest annual trade show and conference for the architectural and commercial lighting industry, could be described as all of the above.
Held May 7-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 23rd annual LFI attracted more than a projected 20,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors spanning 200,000-plus net square feet… more
May 10, 2012
A week ago, the trade show industry was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Gary Sain, president and CEO of Visit Orlando.
Below are the memorial and other arrangements to honor Gary.
Visitation will take place from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, May 11, at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 301 N.E. Ivanhoe Blvd., Orlando, FL 32804; 407-898-8111.
Additional visitation will take place at 10 a.m., immediately prior to the Celebration of Life and Funeral Service set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 12, at Northland, A Church Distributed, located at 530 Dog Track Road, Longwood, FL 32759; 407-949-… more
May 09, 2012
Mary Pat Heftman, executive vice president for the National Restaurant Association’s NRA Show 2012, remembers the exact day - July, 26, 2011 - she was told the event was going to have to move off of its traditional late-May show dates at Chicago’s McCormick Place for what was then supposed to be the G8 Summit (now NATO Summit) coming to town.
“We were 80-percent sold out,” Heftman said. “We saw 8-percent attrition (of exhibitors) at that point.”
The show’s dates were moved to May 5-8, but with a lot of hard work by the NRA show staff, the numbers… more
May 09, 2012
Even after a mild winter this year, exhibitors for next year’s SIA Snow Show are betting on good times, buying out all of the space on the showfloor nine months in advance.
The announcement came during SnowSports Industries America’s annual spring board of directors meeting that was held in conjunction with the National Ski Areas Association National Convention & Trade Show in San Antonio, Texas.
The SIA show, on tap Jan. 31-Feb. 3 at Denver’s Colorado Convention Center, will not increase its space and booth fees will stay the same for the seventh year in a… more
May 08, 2012
The overall unemployment figures still might be down in the United States, but the trade show industry job market seems to be very busy with several new hires and promotions announced in the first part of May.
After a three-month nationwide search, the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau recently selected Bennish Brown as the organization’s new president and CEO.
Brown has a strong background in the destination marketing industry and served the past 12 years as the executive director of Rock Hill/York County Convention and Visitor Bureau in South Carolina.
Brown… more
May 08, 2012
To honor the ‘unsung heroes’ of the trade show industry, The Expo Group has launched the Exhibit Manager of the Year Awards.
Nominations will be accepted through June 8 and the top exhibit managers will be feted at the TSEA-EACA Red Diamond Congress Gala July 11.
Demonstrating value, marketplace engagement and multi-channel initiatives are among the criteria that will be subjectively judged by an independent panel of industry notables.
“I personally am eager to hear about the accomplishments of the exhibit managers nominated,” said Ray Pekowski, president and CEO of… more
May 07, 2012
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions’ Asian Attractions Expo 2013 will head back to Singapore June 4-7 at the Marina Bay Sands.
After holding the show in Singapore in 2011, Malaysia the year before and it’s on tap in Hong Kong this year, exhibition organizers decided to take the show back to Singapore next year.
“We are excited to bring Asian Attractions Expo back to Singapore in 2013,” said Andrew Lee, IAAPA’s vice president of Asia-Pacific Operations.
He added, “Marina Bay Sands provides the ideal convention facilities, and… more
May 07, 2012
In a first-time collaboration between Germany’s Messe Duesseldorf and Indonesia-based PT. Wahana Kemalaniaga Makmur, INDOPRINT, INDOPACK and INDOPLAS 2012 in Jakarta scored record participation, according to organizers.
Visitors mainly attended from Indonesia, Southeast Asia and other parts of Asia and 249 exhibitors from 19 nations presented their latest product developments, applications and solutions for the printing, packaging and plastics industries.
Exhibiting for the first time were companies from Italy, Japan, Turkey and the U.S. National groups and pavilions from Austria,… more
May 07, 2012
The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre recently scored four awards in the national Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) Awards for a second consecutive year.
The Centre’s wins were across a broad range of categories including in-house AV services, banquet and catering, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility and Education.
The venue’s CEO Ton van Amerongen said he “was tremendously proud of the awards which were testament to the skill and professionalism of the Centre’s staff.”
He added, “Our team is the fabric of the Centre and it is their… more
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact